Safety device for pedestrians



Oct. 26, 1943. E, STUBBE 2,332,948

SAFETY DEVICE FOR PEDESTRIANS Filed July 2, 1942 INVENTOR.

ELSA 5705:; Q .BY

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,332,948 SAFETYDEVICE on PEDESTRIANS Elsa Stubbe, Cedar-brook, N. J. Application July2, 1942, Serial N0.4 19,404

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a safety device to be used by pedestrians whilewalking at night in poorly lighted or unlighted locations. My inventionis concerned mainly with avoiding the dangers which face the pedestrianby way of approaching vehicles without proper lights or visibility. Alsothe hazards of collision among foot travelers in crowded and poorlylighted or unlighted locations are sought to be minimized.

Heretofore attempts have been made to provide a safety device which maybe worn by pedestrians at night or be carried by them to give anapproaching vehicle with lights a flash or series of flashes fromreflector elements for warning purposes. Certain disadvantages arepresent in the prior art devices with which I am familiar and the broadobject of this invention is to create an improved device which willeliminate the disadvantages and will provide additional utility in manyways. i

A more limited object of my invention is to provide a safety devicewhich is extremely simple in construction and is easy to manufacture,relatively cheap, and easy to use because of its simplicity.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which issubstantially universal in application insofar as it is adapted to theuse of all sizes of persons without tedious adjustments or the necessityof purchasing particular sizes.

Another object of my invention is to provide protection for pedestriansagainst the hazards of collision with other foot travelers in crowdedand poorly lighted or unlighted areas, and at the same time the devicewill give warning to approaching vehicles with lights of meager candlepower or brilliance during periods of blackout.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which may be usedin comfort, which may be quickly applied or removed, and which may beconveniently carried or stored when not in use.

Another and more limited object of my invention is the provision of animproved signal button with simplified attaching means, whichfacilitates assembly and any adjustment which may be needed in extremecases.

In general, I accomplish the above objects through the use of a necklacetype of carrier for the signal devices or buttons and so arrange thebuttons that groups of them depend equally upon the breast and back ofthe pedestrian to give protection from both directions. For purposes ofeconomy, lightness, and many other advantages, I employ a textile tapein place of the usual chain employed in a necklace and attach the signaldevices directly to the tape by passing prongs carried by the signaldevice directly through the tape.

My invention, therefore, comprises an elongated carrier member formedinto a suitable closed loop for reception of the head and neck of thewearer, while opposed portions of the loop carry signal devices, whichdepend substantially equally from the front and rear to provideprotection from the directions of greatest hazards Other objects andadvantages of my invention will appear hereinafter as the descriptionproceeds, and a better understanding of my invention may be had byreference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a View of mydevice being worn in its customary and approved manner. Figure 2 is adetail View of the signal devices attached to the carrier, and Figure 3is a detail view showing the arrangement by which the devices areattached to the carrier.

As can be seen from Figure 1, my device comprises a carrier strap 5arranged into a closed formation to provide a, loop 6 with its oppositeends held closely together to provide V-shaped openings 1 and 8, whichare inverted with respect to each other and leave a' relatively largeopening substantially equidistant the ends to receive the head and neckof a pedestrian.

Referring now to Figure 2, the strap 5 may be formed of any knitted orwoven fabric tape, and after a bend or crease is formed in the strap bydoubling the two opposed parts together, the parts are swung in oppositedirections in parallel planes to provide the V-shaped openings 7 and 8.While in this position the flexible prongs l0 carried by luminousbuttons II and. reflecting buttons l2 are pushed through the doublelayer of tape and the prongs are bent downwardly as shown clearly inFigure 3 to clamp and hold the fabric material between the prongs andthe rear face of the buttons. Preferably a small washer l3 having anelongated slot H receives the ends of the prongs l0 before they are bentoutwardly and thus excess separation of prongs near their base isprevented.

In extreme cases where an excessively heavy neck or very slopinshoulders might, be involved, an adjustment of the V-shaped openings 1and 8 may be made by moving the buttons downwardly and to one side toprovide a greater opening in the case of the heavy neck or the upperbutton may be moved upwardly with the divergent straps brought moreclosely together in case of sloping shoulders. The adjustment may beefiected quickly and will give maximum comfort and a feeling of securityto the wearer in spite of pecularities of physical makeup.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawing it can be seen that as the pedestrian walks along in the dark anapproaching vehicle with lights will cause the reflecting buttons I2 togive warning to the driver of the vehicle. Also the luminous buttons IIwill give warning to approaching pedestrians without lights. In that waycollisions and injuries may be avoided.

Due to the lightness, compactness, and flexibility of the device it maybe carried in the purse or pocket to be available at all times by oneuser, or it may be stored in a convenient place for use by any one in ahousehold ,when he is compelled to go out during the night time.

Various changes in details of construction may be made without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and I wish to avail myself of allmodifications coming properly within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising an elongated carrierstrap arranged in loop formation and providing opposed V-s hapedopenings, means for maintaining said V-shaped formations, and signaldevices carried at the base of each V-shaped formation; said meanscomprising pronged elements carried by said signal devices and passingthrough superposed layers of. said: carrier strap.

ELSA STUBBE.

